A University of Reading professor who battled depression his whole life killed himself at home just hours after his doctor said he was in the best condition he had seen him, an inquest heard.

Award-winning historian Professor Christopher Duggan, of Napoleon Road, Twickenham, took his own life at the family home two days before his 58th birthday, having previously expressed thoughts which “revealed a very black world.”

Prof Duggan joined the university in 1987 where he lectured in Italian history, politics, culture and language. He served several times as Head of the Department of Italian Studies and was Head of the School of Languages and European Studies, later Literature and Languages.

The inquest in Hammersmith on Wednesday, March 9 heard Prof Duggan had requested psychiatric therapy in the weeks before his death, believing an unresolved issue from his childhood may have been behind his “crippling” anxiety and depression.

His wife of 28 years - an art historian and head of collections at the Tate Gallery - told the inquest although the father-of-two had previously taken overdoses, any attempts at self-harm were “few and far between” until the last few months of his life.

Jennifer Mundy found her husband at home on November 2, 2015 after returning when she had been unable to contact him. A suicide note which read: “Have a wonderful life; enjoy it” was found in one of his pockets, the inquest was told.

Coroner Chinyere Inyama heard just hours before his death Prof Duggan had told his GP of his excitement after recently being appointed to a research professorship in the University of Reading History department - despite asking him for a certificate to request a month off work.

Prof Duggan was referred to his community mental health team in December 2014 and February 2015 after overdoses, which Ms Mundy said may have been attempts to control his anxiety symptoms rather than serious attempts to end his life.

She told the inquest in Hammersmith: “He suffered from anxiety and depression. It affected his function. He was unable to work and had difficulty in tasks he could otherwise usually perform.”

"There were some good days, there were good half days and there were good hours."

She added: “In the last six weeks there were some good days, there were good half days and there were good hours. It was hard to know, when Christopher would wake up, how he would feel or how he would feel through the course of the day.”

His GP, Dr Chris Smith, told the inquest: “He was a very intelligent man and he understood he was unwell, but I don’t think he liked being unwell and I got the impression he didn’t like taking medication - but he realised it was essential.

“To say he was totally compliant would be wrong. That wasn’t his character. I tended to see him at times of crisis. He did often mention to me a pressure of work.”

Dr Smith saw Prof Duggan at his surgery in September when he asked for something to treat his anxiety.

He told the inquest: “It was the worst I remember seeing him.”

The GP did not see Prof Duggan until the morning of his death - by which time his condition had seemingly improved.

Dr Smith told the inquest: “He was as well as I have ever seen him. It was the first time I had an ordinary business consultation with him. He’d come to ask for a certificate to be off work for the next month and he asked to discuss his asthma medication. We discussed that and I gave him a certificate to be off work.”

"He’s clearly going to be very missed. That’s a mark of the person he was."

Prof Duggan had been referred to the community mental health team on October 7 last year and been seen daily thereafter. Nurse practitioner Margaret Aduaka said by October 22 he was making good progress.

“He was acknowledging there had been some improvement. He was more positive in his thinking; he was thinking more clearly,” she said.

On the day of his death a police search of his computer revealed Prof Duggan had looked at websites to research ways of committing suicide.

A toxicology investigation revealed he had traces of three types of prescription medication in his system. This included an anti-depressant, which was associated with being “toxic”. A post mortem examination however concluded Prof Duggan died from suspension.

Mr Inyama said he was satisfied that all the evidence showed Prof Duggan had intended to kill himself and recorded a verdict of suicide.

Addressing Prof Duggan’s family at the conclusion of the hearing Mr Inyama said: “You don’t always get people attending an inquest. There are four of you here; he’s clearly going to be very missed. That’s a mark of the person he was.”